Centers for Disease Control looks for agency partners

ATLANTA: The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention is searching for agency support for three major projects, including its HIV/AIDS-prevention work.

The government agency is looking for support for the launch of the second phase of the “Testing Makes Us Stronger” effort, an HIV/AIDS campaign focused on black gay and bisexual men. The one-year contact is worth up to $1.5 million, with an option for a second year.

The first part of the effort has included a dedicated website and Facebook page, as well as national print and online advertising. The CDC will also share campaign updates through @AIDSgov, @HIVTalk, and other Twitter accounts, encouraging campaign-focused tweets about HIV and AIDS observance days and campaign events.

The federal agency is searching for a firm that will analyze components of the previous phase of the campaign, and use those findings to move forward with part two. The work will include implementation strategy and details, launch and rollout plans, traditional media plans, social and digital media strategy, placement, audience segmentation, and channel strategies.

The Centers for Disease Control also expects the winning firm to expand the social media reach of the campaign. The agency will assume daily operations of each of the campaign's social media elements, including monitoring and fielding inquiries and comments.

The CDC has been reviewing proposals for the contract since April 17.

The CDC is also searching for a firm to provide public health communication and marketing support for the long-running “Learn the Signs. Act Early” autism campaign. The incumbent on that account is Porter Novelli, which is now operating under the $550,000 contract, according to records.

The agency wants a firm to support three campaign components, including the health-education effort promoting awareness of healthy development milestones in early childhood and the importance of tracking development and acting early if there are concerns.

The winning firm will also support the “Act Early Initiative,” which will enhance collaborative efforts to improve screening and referral processes, and to help states analyze and measure their early identification and referral systems. The agency will also help with research and evaluation of campaign materials.

The winning firm will begin work July 1 and the project will last a year. There is an option for a second year.

The CDC is also searching for a firm to promote its National Intimate Partner and Sexual Violence Surveillance System. The winning agency will conduct outreach for the National Center for Injury Prevention and Control.

The agency values the 18-month contract at up to $300,000. It is accepting proposals through May 4.